Back Pain, Acupuncture Significantly More Effective Than Other Therapies

A Canadian study from Ottawa Hospital Research Institute at the Univ of Ottawa examined efficacy of acupuncture, massage and spinal manipulation on back pain. The authors reviewed over 150 trials and found that acupuncture was significantly more effective in reducing pain and disability than usual treatments, including physical therapy (exercise and electrotherapy).

Although the studies were done on humans, similar results would be expected in other animals, including dogs & cats. What does this mean? It means when your pet hurts its back, request acupuncture. In over 150 studies acupuncture significantly reduced the pain and disability compared with other modalities.

For details on the study, look in the Nov 24, 2011 issue of Evidence Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. The authors are Furla, AD, Yazdi F, et al. The title of the study was A systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and safety of selected complementary and alternative medicine for neck and low-back pain.